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Meditation 1279
Re-Imagining Religion: the power of cooperation

by: Gordon Barthel

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I dream of a religion that understands the power of people working together, a religion that comprehends every human made wonder in the world, past, present and future, is the consequence of humans working together, not the consequence of immortals or aliens, not even the consequence of egomaniacal mortals, but the consequence of living, breathing humans working together for a common objective.

I dream of a religion that understands the power of cooperation, a religion that comprehends every town, every city, every nation, every civilization on this beautiful blue planet is the consequence of people cooperating to create vibrant, liveable communities, a religion that recognizes every neighbourhood, every community in every city on every continent is a living, vibrant community because people are willing to respect each other’s space, people are willing to their neighbours and their friends, people are willing to refrain from assaulting each other over pedestrian disputes and people are willing to trust a third party to settle larger disputes.

I dream of a religion that understands the power of cooperation, a religion that comprehends we have global communication systems moving information around the planet and we have international transportation systems moving people and products around the world because nations are willing to work together for the greater good rather than battling one another for the greater glory of profoundly narcissistic mortals and immortals.

I dream of a religion that understands the power of cooperation, a religion that comprehends people from different backgrounds, each with their own ambitions and dreams, coming together to accomplish a common goal that manages to satisfy everybody’s varying ambitions, a religion that recognizes humanity has footprints on the moon and rovers on Mars because thousand upon thousands of humans in dozens of fields and dozens of countries can work together to overcome astronomical hurdles.

I dream of a religion that understands the power of mere mortals working together, a religion that comprehends we can reach into space, plunge into the deepest depths of the oceans and bore kilometres beneath the surface simply by working together, a religion that comprehends we can build majestic temples, colossal cathedrals and stately churches simply because ordinary humans are social creatures who are willing to work together for the greater good.

I dream of a religion that believes in the power of people working together, perhaps a religion that believes we have a chance of conquering famine, poverty and pandemics if only we are willing to cooperate for the greater good.

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